Judson l



(No Model.)

- MAIL BAG.

J. gL. BASSETT.

Patented Mar. l, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IUDSON L. BASSETT, OF COLDWATER, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF l TO ALBERT A. DORRANOE, OF SAME PLACE.

lMAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,169, dated March 1, 1892.

Apulieation filed July 28, 1890. Serial No. 360,241. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J UDsoN L. BAssETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coldwater, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Mail-Bag, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mail-bags; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described,

` and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is a front View showing the bag closed, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line Qc.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the body of the bag, formed with outside reinforcement A atits upperportion. On theinside of the bag at the upper portion is secured a piece C of leather, corresponding in width to that of the reinforcement A. This piece or strap is riveted in at the sides of the bag and along the back by the same rivets which secure the lower edge of said outer reinforcement. The strip C, when so secured, is arranged to form a pocket C', extending across the back side of the bag at its upper portion. The front half of the bag is made sufficiently long to provide a Iiap or fold E of a width sufficient to fold into and reach the bottom of the pocket C', and when in this position-effectually closes the opening or mouth of the bag. Vthen the extension F of the back portion F of the bag is brought over the mouth and locked, as shown, the piece C and ap E take all the strain 0E this outer fold. Said flaps also serve to prevent the mail from being injured by contact with the upper portion of the bag and the metal usually employed thereat.

H designates the label holder and fastener, which comprises a metallic plate riveted to the flap F, and having the bentover portions h, forming the holder proper. In said plate is a slot j, which engages a staple j on the reinforcement A to form the lock.

K designates a slot, one of which is formed in either side of the bag at its upper portion, the object of which is to permit the bags to be readily hung up upon the hooks common in railway mail-cars.

In closing the bag the llap E is folded into the pocket C', and the outer flap or extension F is drawn down and its eye or slot slipped over the staple and locked. The label which has been previously inserted is held in such a position that when the bag is locked it cannot be removed from its holder. WVhen,how ever, the bag is unlocked, it may be readily removed. y

When suspended on hooks in a caror other place, the label is in such position that it can be readily seen.

I am fully aware that it is not new to provide a pocket on the back portion of a mailbag externally thereof, into which folds an extension of flap of the front portion, and I do not make any claim to such a const-ruction, my invention clearly distinguishing therefrom in the fact that the pocket is formed in the interior at the mouth of the bag, by means of which the strain upon the bag when in inverted position is entirely removed from the outer flap and fastening, and which also renders the mouth portion of the bag less bulky and cumbersome.

'Having described this invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A mail-bag havinga piece or strip of a width equal to its outer reinforcing-strip secured at its lower edge to the inner face of the back portion of the bag in the mouth thereof and forming a pocket therein between the inner surfaces of the front and back portions, the front portion of said bag having a flap or extension adapted to fold inwardly into said pocket between the pocket-forming strip and the inner face of the back portion, and the rear portion of the bag having an extension forming a flap adapted to be drawn over the mouth of the bag and down upon the front thereof, said flap having a label-holder and lock-plate thereon, substantially as specified.

J UDSON L. BASSETT.

Witnesses:

ALVIN T. LANPHEEE, GooRLY A. REX. 

